Bluewater, Rangewood and Bowen rural fire brigades receive $1.5m equipment boost
Just in time for the bushfire season, the keys to $1.5m worth of new fire trucks have been handed over to three NQ rural fire brigades. See where.
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Three North Queensland Rural Fire Service brigades have been reinforced with state-of-the-art Rural Fire Service trucks, just in time for the start of the bushfire season.
Fire and Disaster Recovery Minister Nikki Boyd recently handed over the keys to firefighting appliances worth a total of $1.5m to the Bluewater, Rangewood and Bowen Delta brigades.
The Bluewater Rural Fire Brigade’s fire fighting capacity has been boosted by 1200L capacity, dual cab medium attack appliance.
Rangewood Rural Fire Brigade members are getting acquainted with a new 7,000-litre rural tanker, while a hefty 12,000L tanker was assigned to the Bowen Delta Rural Fire Brigade.
Bowen’s tanker was strategically located to boost water availability for firefighting in surrounding rural areas and support for Queensland Fire Department crews in Bowen and Collinsville.
In addition to significant water capacity, the appliances are fitted with sophisticated fire suppression equipment and better protection for frontline firefighting volunteers.
With bushfire season running from July until October, but potentially extending into February, the trucks will be used for local bushfire response operations and to support other Rural Fire Service Queensland (RFSQ) brigades in the region.
Ms Nikki Boyd said by delivering the state-of-the-art appliances her government was boosting the capability of rural brigades in the North, and investing in the safety of volunteer firefighters and the communities they protect.
“The safety of North Queenslanders is paramount and that’s what makes the commitment of frontline RFSQ volunteers to their communities so important,” Ms Boyd said.
Thuringowa MP Aaron Harper said the new hardware would help volunteer rural firefighters get on the front foot for the start of the North’s fire season.
“With superior fire suppression equipment on-board, these new appliances are designed to step up and back in other RFSQ brigades as a truly region-wide rural firefighting force,” Mr Harper said.
“The new trucks offer better protection on the firefighting frontline for volunteers.”
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